Latest news with #TheSquare
Spectator
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
With Jun Tanaka
Jun Tanaka is a Japanese-British chef with over 30 years' experience in some of London's most famous restaurants, including La Gavroche, Restaurant Marco Pierre White and The Square. In 2016 he opened the Ninth, which was awarded a Michelin star two years later. On the podcast, Jun tells Lara why the smell of baking brings back early food memories, how Japanese packed lunch is superior to English packed lunch, and why, in his view, you still can't get a good ramen in London.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Four clues Michelle Ryan was returning to EastEnders – as Zoe Slater is back after 20 years offscreen
Did you catch these four clues? shock return Four clues Michelle Ryan was returning to EastEnders – as Zoe Slater is back after 20 years offscreen Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EASTENDERS star Michelle Ryan is returning to the soap - but did you spot these four clues hinting at her comeback. The Sun revealed Michelle, 41, will be reprising her role as Zoe Slater this year - after two decades away. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 8 EastEnders star Michelle Ryan is returning as Zoe Slater Credit: Getty 8 The Slater family arrived in Walford back in 2000 Credit: BBC 8 The character Zoe left Albert Square in 2005 Credit: BBC A source said: 'Bosses have repeatedly reached out to Michelle over the years, but the timing has never been quite right. 'People are still talking about her character, so it's a real coup to bring her back. 'She feels like now is the perfect moment — and there was an exciting script on the table.' Michelle starred in the BBC soap from 2000 until eventually bowing out in 2005. Listed below are some clues pointing to the star's Albert Square return. On-screen 'cameo' 8 Zoe made a brief "cameo" on-screen last year Credit: BBC Zoe may have left Walford two decades ago, but many of her family members still live in the area. Earlier this year, fans began speculating a possible comeback after the soap featured a shot focusing on a photo frame shot of the Slater sisters on Kat's mantlepiece. Speaking on Reddit, one viewer wrote: "Tonight was a dead giveaway -- the way the camera focused directly on Michelle Ryan in that framed Slater photo, that's no accident. "She's totally coming back this week. That was a deliberate teaser." They added: "I suppose a red herring is possible, but for the love of God EE, please don't let us down on this one as well and not do it after all this." EastEnders legend Michelle Ryan reveals devastating family tragedy - after 'having a feeling' it would happen day before "It's way overdue. We haven't had Little Mo back, we haven't had Carol back, we've got to have Zoe." Co-star reunions 8 Michelle reunited with former co-star Kacey Ainsworth Credit: instagram/@michelleryan008 Michelle has previously caught up with ex-EastEnders castmates - although they no longer work together on the BBC soap. One example was her reunion with Kacey Ainsworth, who played Zoe's aunt Little Mo. Sharing a snap of the two, Michelle penned, in part: "Just got back from a lovely dog walk with my friend Kacey. "We worked together many moons ago (no pun intended) on Eastenders as sisters. Part of the Slater family. "Our boss John Yorke took a real risk putting a family of women in the show and it paid off as on one week when Zoe found out that Kat was her mother viewers tuned into the BBC for 19, 18, 20 and 21 million per episode plus the omnibus." One fan commented: "I'd love to see Zoe back on The Square, even if it was just a short time. I wonder if she'd actually get on with Stacey now." Another remarked: "Would you not just come back? It would be epic!" While a third wrote: "Enjoyed seeing Zoe again in Classic Eastenders episodes recently, be nice to see you back in show someday." Meanwhile, Michelle also caught up with actress Kim Medcalf, who has played Sam Mitchell across two stints. 8 She also caught up with former Sam Mitchell star Kim Medcalf Credit: Instagram/MichelleRyan Michelle posted their comeback selfie onto her Instagram grid page as she sent soap fans into a frenzy. She captioned the snap: "Kim and I on a pre Christmas catch up. We hadn't seen each other in five years. As easy company as ever." 40th Anniversary celebration 8 Michelle marked the soap's 40th anniversary earlier this year Credit: Getty Although Zoe didn't return on-screen for the soap's 40th anniversary, Michelle paid homage to her time in EastEnders. She made a rare post on Instagram celebrating her time on Eastenders, reposting shots from her official photoshoot when joining the series. "I was just sent these two photos from the square that were taken when I was 17/18, that's early 2000's!" she wrote. "They were actually never used for cards to be signed (although I'm being told that some people have them, I didn't realise)." "Wishing everyone on the square a very Happy 40th Birthday! What an achievement for a show to run for that long!," she said. "Many great memories. Congratulations to everyone (Don't read into the song chosen, it's playing in the cafe)." Co-stars discuss return on podcast 8 Lacey Turner and Jessie Wallace discussed a possible Zoe comeback Credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes Fans aren't the only ones who wanted Zoe to return - some of Michelle's former co-stars voiced their interest in this happening. Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, welcomed Jessie Wallace, aka Kat Slater, to her podcast We Started Here. Speaking in the episode, Lacey said: "The Kat and Zoe [storyline]… I'd love it if she came back. Would you?" To which Jessie replied: "I think it'd be great. I think it would be lovely. "Can we make that happen? Wouldn't it be great?" Fans made reference to these comments under Michelle's post, as she wrote: "It came up on a feed, very proud of Lacey having her own podcast. Lovely of Jessie to say."
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Four clues Michelle Ryan was returning to EastEnders – as Zoe Slater is back after 20 years offscreen
EASTENDERS star Michelle Ryan is returning to the soap - but did you spot these four clues hinting at her comeback. The Sun revealed Michelle, 41 8 EastEnders star Michelle Ryan is returning as Zoe Slater Credit: Getty 8 The Slater family arrived in Walford back in 2000 Credit: BBC 8 The character Zoe left Albert Square in 2005 Credit: BBC A source said: 'Bosses have repeatedly reached out to Michelle over the years, but the timing has never been quite right. 'People are still talking about her character, so it's a real coup to bring her back. 'She feels like now is the perfect moment — and there was an exciting script on the table.' Michelle starred in the BBC soap from 2000 until Read more on EastEnders Listed below are some clues pointing to the star's Albert Square return. On-screen 'cameo' 8 Zoe made a brief "cameo" on-screen last year Credit: BBC Zoe may have left Walford two decades ago, but many of her family members still live in the area. Earlier this year, fans began Speaking on Most read in Soaps "She's totally coming back this week. That was a deliberate teaser ." They added: "I suppose a red herring is possible, but for the love of God EE , please don't let us down on this one as well and not do it after all this." EastEnders legend Michelle Ryan reveals devastating family tragedy - after 'having a feeling' it would happen day before "It's way overdue. We haven't had Little Mo back, we haven't had Carol back, we've got to have Zoe." Co-star reunions 8 Michelle reunited with former co-star Kacey Ainsworth Credit: instagram/@michelleryan008 Michelle has previously caught up with ex-EastEnders castmates - although they no longer work together on the BBC soap. One example was her reunion with Sharing a snap of the two, Michelle penned, in part: "Just got back from a lovely dog walk with my friend Kacey. "We worked together many moons ago (no pun intended) on Eastenders as sisters. Part of the Slater family. "Our boss John Yorke took a real risk putting a family of women in the show and it paid off as on one week when Zoe found out that Kat was her mother viewers tuned into the BBC for 19, 18, 20 and 21 million per episode plus the omnibus." One fan commented: "I'd love to see Zoe back on The Square, even if it was just a short time. I wonder if she'd actually get on with Stacey now." Another remarked: "Would you not just come back? It would be epic!" While a third wrote: "Enjoyed seeing Zoe again in Classic Eastenders episodes recently, be nice to see you back in show someday." Meanwhile, Michelle also caught up with actress Kim Medcalf, 8 She also caught up with former Sam Mitchell star Kim Medcalf Credit: Instagram/MichelleRyan Michelle posted their comeback selfie onto her Instagram grid page as she sent soap fans into a frenzy. She captioned the snap: "Kim and I on a pre Christmas catch up. We hadn't seen each other in five years. As easy company as ever." 40th Anniversary celebration 8 Michelle marked the soap's 40th anniversary earlier this year Credit: Getty Although Zoe didn't return on-screen for the soap's 40th anniversary, Michelle paid homage to her time in EastEnders . She made a rare post on Instagram "I was just sent these two photos from the square that were taken when I was 17/18, that's early 2000's!" she wrote. "They were actually never used for cards to be signed (although I'm being told that some people have them, I didn't realise)." "Wishing everyone on the square a very Happy 40th Birthday! What an achievement for a show to run for that long!," she said. "Many great memories. Congratulations to everyone (Don't read into the song chosen, it's playing in the cafe)." Co-stars discuss return on podcast 8 Lacey Turner and Jessie Wallace discussed a possible Zoe comeback Credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes Fans aren't the only ones who wanted Zoe to return - some of Michelle's former co-stars voiced their interest in this happening. Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, welcomed Speaking in the episode, Lacey said: "The Kat and Zoe [storyline]… I'd love it if she came back. Would you?" To which Jessie replied: "I think it'd be great. I think it would be lovely. "Can we make that happen? Wouldn't it be great?" Fans made reference to these comments under Michelle's post, as she wrote: "It came up on a feed, very proud of Lacey having her own podcast. Lovely of Jessie to say." Kat Moon's EastEnders Timeline Kat Slater burst onto the Square in 2000 as feisty Kat Slater, played by Jessie Wallace. She is the eldest sister of the Slater family. She soon makes a big name for herself. She is a loud and brash character who is renowned for her leopard print skimpy outfits and loads of red lipstick. She has played the 'tart with a heart' character but has also had an epic love story with Alfie. Here is a rundown of her greatest soap storylines. Kat arrives in Walford as part of the Slater clan, She soon begins a fling with Steve Owen (Martin Kemp) behind the back of his girlfriend Mel Healey. Kat's sister Zoe (played by Michelle Ryan) was revealed to be her sister after shocked viewers learned she was raped by her uncle Harry Slater as a child and Kat being only 13, was known as her sister. Kat and Zoe's relationship was turbulent. They both vied for the attentions of Anthony Trueman. Kat and Anthony were together but broke up and Zoe then seduced him. Kat later learns she was pregnant but then has to have an abortion. She is comforted by her boss Alfie Moon but then he realises he is in love with her. Kat, becomes briefly engaged to Andy Hunter a local crime boss (Michael Briggs) but she jilts him on her wedding day for the true love her life Alfie. Kat sparks a romance with Alfie Moon and it is the love story of the square. She finally marries Alfie Moon on Christmas day in the Vic. Alfie takes a loan from Andy which he is unable to repay and then threatens to kill him unless Kat sleeps with him. Their relationship becomes cold and distant. One of Kat's biggest storylines was helping her daughter cover up the murder of Dirty Den Watts. She left the soap in 2005 sailing into the sunset with Alfie for a new life in America. Kat returned to the soap in 2010 on the run from a man who she and Alfie conned for money. While Alfie was serving time, she had an affair with Michael Moon who happened to be Alfies cousin and she is now pregnant with his child. Another Kat storyline focused on the breakdown of her and Alfie's marriage and her separation from Tommy and their twin sons Bert and Ernie. Kat's union with Phil Mitchell began after months of feuding. She then sleeps with him marries him beginning a war with his ex Sharon Mitchell over the Mitchell empire. The latest storyline has focused on her son Tommy who idolised Phil and is trying to get back at Kat for breaking up the marriage. Kat meanwhile is back with the love of her life Alfie who is suffering from cancer.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Kim Bo-sol's animation The Square captures North Korea — without stepping foot there
THE contrast couldn't have been starker. On the closing night of the 27th Far East Film Festival in Udine, northern Italy, Korean director Kim Bo-sol and production designer Oh Yu-jin stepped onto the stage to introduce The Square — their animated feature about a Swedish diplomat stationed in Pyongyang, North Korea, navigating isolation, surveillance and forbidden love. As the warm spring air lingered outside, Oh invited the audience to leave behind Udine's sunny, festive streets and immerse themselves in a stark, snow-covered Pyongyang. For just over an hour, the audience inside the Teatro Nuovo Giovanni da Udine was transported into an animated world of cold skies and quiet streets, where freedom is scarce and solitude impossible. At its core, The Square follows three figures: Isak Borg, the Swedish diplomat; So Bok-joo, a traffic officer and his secret lover; and Myung-jun, Borg's conflicted interpreter. Through their intertwined stories, the film offers a rare imagined glimpse into everyday life in one of the world's most secretive states — a place where heavy surveillance leaves no room to be truly alone. Yet despite the setting's political weight, The Square is less a statement on regime or ideology than it is an intimate human drama about longing, loyalty and the quiet courage it takes to grasp for connection in an isolating world. Its debut arrives at a time when Asian animation is commanding unprecedented global attention. China's Ne Zha 2, the story of a rebellious demon boy battling his fate, has smashed records to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time with over US$2 billion at the global box office. Riding this rising wave of interest, The Square is set to travel next to New York's Tribeca Film Festival and France's Annecy International Animation Film Festival this June, with hopes for a wider international release later this year. A labour of love nearly six years in the making, The Square was largely shaped by Kim and Oh's relentless effort — a fact both filmmakers reflected on as they sat down for a quiet conversation on the sidelines of FEFF. How did the two of you come together as a team to work on this project? Kim Bo-sol: When I was making my first short film Home (2019), Yu-jin and I were already dating — we're married now. She majored in fine art and was great at drawing, so I asked if she'd help create the backgrounds. That collaboration became the start of our creative partnership. How big was your crew for The Square? Kim: It was essentially just the two of us. The budget was tiny, so we couldn't afford much of a team. Oh Yu-jin: In pre-production, we started with four people — us, a producer and a friend who helped with storyboarding. When production began, we gathered a few artists to assist with backgrounds and character drawings. But eventually, due to limited funds, it came down to us again. That's why it took nearly six years. Where did the idea for The Square come from? Kim: It began in high school. We had a substitute teacher who introduced us to Conversation (2005), a book by journalist Lee Yeong Hee, known for advocating more nuanced views on North Korea during South Korea's military dictatorship era. It left a lasting impression. Later, as a film student, I read an article interviewing a Swedish diplomat who had spent three years in Pyongyang. When asked about his experience, he said simply, "I was so lonely." Because of constant surveillance, even casual drinks with colleagues were impossible. His only solace was cycling in circles around a large empty square. That haunting image stayed with me — and became the seed for this film. So, Isak Borg was inspired by that diplomat? Kim: Yes, though I wanted to avoid overt political messaging. That's partly why Borg is Swedish — Sweden maintains neutral diplomacy with North Korea. But ultimately, this film is about both Koreas. At the end, when Borg dyes his hair and speaks with a South Korean accent, he symbolically becomes a figure representing the South. And Bok-joo, the traffic officer? Kim: She's fictional, though her job exists in Pyongyang. She's the bravest character in the film, despite limited screen time. We wanted her to stand out. Oh: With so few scenes, it was important that Bok-joo left a strong, assertive impression. How did you research Pyongyang's visuals, since you couldn't visit? Kim: As South Koreans, we legally can't go to North Korea. So, our research was entirely online. The images we found were often distant and staged, but surprisingly, Instagram proved helpful. Tourists posted photos where you could see citizens and scenery up close. After my first script draft, I made a list of questions and was lucky to interview two former Pyongyang residents. One of them, a former MSS (North Korean secret police) member, became a key coordinator for our film. Those interviews gave us invaluable insight. What was the biggest visual challenge? Oh: Portraying Pyongyang authentically. In South Korea, depictions of North Korea are often propaganda-like — grim, lifeless and covered in slogans. I wanted to avoid clichés and focus on the fact that it's still a city where people live ordinary lives. Balancing that with the unavoidable gloom of its environment was the hardest part. What kind of support did you have for this project? Kim: Through the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA), we received initial state funding — about 100 million won, or US$80,000. But KAFA projects aren't allowed to accept outside funding, so we had to stretch that for the entire production. Oh: Honestly, the biggest struggle was survival — feeding ourselves while making the film. The budget was our constant challenge.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Claes Bang Joins Russell Crowe and Harry Lawtey in Cold War Thriller ‘Billion Dollar Spy' Directed by Amma Asante (EXCLUSIVE)
Claes Bang ('The Square,' 'The Northman') stars as a KGB counterintelligence officer in 'Billion Dollar Spy,' a cold war thriller headlined by Oscar-winner Russell Crowe and Harry Lawtey ('Industry'). Directed by BAFTA winner Amma Asante ('A Way of Life'), the film is produced by Walden Media and Weed Road Pictures. More from Variety Tarik Saleh on His Cannes Thriller 'Eagles of the Republic' Forming a 'Cairo Trilogy' With 'Boy From Heaven' and 'Nile Hilton Incident:' 'It's About Men Trying to Defeat a City that Cannot Be Defeated' (EXCLUSIVE) 'The History of Sound' Review: Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor Star in a Gay Period Romance That's Like 'Brokeback Mountain' on Sedatives Neon Acquires North American Rights to Kleber Mendonça Filho's 'The Secret Agent' Now shooting in Budapest, 'Billion Dollar Spy' is adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author David E. Hoffman's book by the same name, about the true story of Soviet spy Adolf Tolkachev. Ben August ('Class Rank,' 'Remember') and Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan ('Traffic') penned the screenplay. Variety revealed a first look of the film last week, as Cannes market kicked off. Crowe stars as Tolkachev, who was among the CIA's most invaluable assets during the Cold War. Disillusioned with the Soviet regime, Tolkachev risked his life to pass thousands of pages of top-secret intelligence to the United States. Lawtey plays his CIA handler inside Moscow Station. The cast is completed by Vera Farmiga, Willa Fitzgerald, Tony Goldwyn, Rufus Sewell and Justin Theroux. Frank Smith, Benjamin Tappan, and Cher Hawrysh of Walden Media are producing alongside Akiva Goldsman and Greg Lessans of Weed Road Pictures. Jane Hooks serves as an executive producer. Pioneer Stillking Films' Ildiko Kemeny, David Minkowski, and Ferenc Szále will serve as co-producers. Naia Cucukov is an executive producer. Bang became an international star after his breakout performance in Ruben Östlund's Oscar-nominated feature 'The Square' which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2017, and six European Film Awards, including best actor for Claes. The actor's main credits also include 'William Tell;' 'The Northman;' 'Bonjour Tristesse;' 'The Girl in the Spider's Web' and the upcoming 'Wrecking Crew.' Bang is represented by UTA and UK-based Sharkey & Co. Best of Variety All the Godzilla Movies Ranked Final Oscar Predictions: International Feature – United Kingdom to Win Its First Statuette With 'The Zone of Interest' 'Game of Thrones' Filming Locations in Northern Ireland to Open as Tourist Attractions
